Hyundai Tiburon

Is your Hyundai Tiburon a lemon?

The Hyundai Tiburon is available in three models: the base GS model with four cylinder engine, and the GT and SE models with V6 engines. Although each model is different, they have many features in common, such as air conditioning, side-impact airbags, power windows, door locks, and heated mirrors. In addition, each offers a six-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system, keyless entry with alarm, 16-inch alloy wheels, four-wheel disc brakes, an anti-lock braking system, a body-colored rear spoiler and dual chrome-tipped exhaust.

Despite these features, the Hyundai Tiburon has faced significant criticism. Government bulletins and online forums are full of complaints lodged against the vehicle. Recalls have been filed and many owners have successfully claimed that this vehicle is a lemon.

Common Problems

The following are common problems faced by Hyundai Tiburon owners, as filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

• Exterior lighting: Turn Signal
• Power Train: Manual Transmission
• Air Bags
• Power Train: Clutch Assembly
• Steering: Linkages: Tie Rod Assembly
• Steering: Gear Box (other than rack and pinion)

Consumers have filed the following specific complaints with the NHTSA:

"I purchased vehicle on April 25, 2005. Vehicle was under recall for steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion). Consequence would prevent steering control of that front wheel by the separated tie rod which could result in a crash. Recall was issued on April 8, 2005 and owners were to be called and instructed not to drive the vehicles. I was not notified of this recall when I purchased this vehicle."

"My client, Lorie Kindrat, was involved in an automobile accident on October 6, 2005. She was driving a 2005 Hyundai Tiburon equipped with driver front and side air bags. She was struck on the driver's side by a vehicle going approximately 30 mph . The side air bags failed to deploy. She sustained life threatening injuries."

The following recalls were filed with the NHTSA:

Certain passenger vehicles may have been built with threaded portions of the steering gearbox assembly's left and right inner ball joint assemblies that contain internal cracks in the material structure. If the inner ball joint assembly was to break as a result of the internal crack, the tie rod end assembly would no longer be attached to the steering gear box. This would prevent steering control of that front wheel by the separated tie rod, which could result in a crash.

On certain vehicles, the driver seat belt buckle wiring could be damaged by interference with the driver seat cushion height adjuster mechanism. Damaged driver seat belt buckle wiring could cause the seat belt warning lamp or the supplemental restraint system (SRS) air bag wiring lamp to illuminate. It could also cause the air bag fuse (cavity number 5) to open, preventing air bag deployment. Damaged driver seat belt buckle wiring could cause the seat belt warning lamp or the supplemental restraint system (SRS) air bag wiring lamp to illuminate. It could also cause the air bag fuse (cavity number 5) to open, preventing air bag deployment. The result would be non-deployment of the SRS air bag in a crash and it could increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.

Legal Rights

See the listing at the above right for things you can do.